SOMETHING exciting is happening in Oxford's South Park.

This haunt of dog-walkers, lazing students and people kicking balls around has been transformed into a massive festival site, capable of holding 30,000 fun-loving party people.

Tomorrow sees the start of Common People – a two day festival of music and the performing arts, headlined by 80s pop icons Duran Duran and indie-rockers Primal Scream.

The festival is the brainchild of Rob da Bank, the man behind the long-running Bestival on the Isle of Wight, Camp Bestival in Dorset and Oxford's sister Common People festival, which launched last year in Southampton.

"It is all pretty hectic at the moment," says the dance music DJ, promoter and festival guru – real name Robert Gorham.

"But everything is looking really good. Now we are just keeping our fingers crossed for the weather."

Even by Rob's standards, the line-up is eclectic, with hip hop pioneers Public Enemy and Sugarhill Gang, dance-pop singer Katy B; 'rockney' duo Chas & Dave; Soul II Soul; Ghostpoet; Craig David and Mercury Prize and Ivor Novello-nominated Wheatley lad Gaz Coombes, former frontman of Supergrass. Oh - and The Chuckle Brothers.

"We are really pleased with the line-up and we have had a great response, with ticket sales doing well.

The word on the street is that lots of Oxford people are coming down, so we are hoping for a last minute walk-up too.

"Oxford hasn't had a big festival on its doorstep for a while, so we are hoping people come along and enjoy it."

Tomorrow's headline slot is occupied by 'new romantics' Duran Duran. Bands don't come much bigger, with the lads having sold 70 million records and with 14 Top 10 singles under their belts - including Rio, Girls on Film, Hungry Like the Wolf, Save a Prayer and Planet Earth.

The band never really broke up since being founded in 1978, but reformed as a proper touring band in 2000. They released their 14th studio album Paper Gods last year - along with a series of live dates including a headline-grabbing headline set at Bestival.

The band's drummer Roger Taylor, said: "We are really looking forward to it!

"I remember playing Oxford on our first tour. There were about 1,500 people then, so to be coming back and playing to a large crowd is very exciting."

He added: "We love playing to a big crowd. It's so inspiring, and these songs we have been playing for 35 years, just come alive in front of an audience.

"I am really looking forward to it; it's going to be great to be back in Oxford."

Sunday's bill will be topped by Primal Scream. Talking exclusively to the Oxford Mail, frontman Bobby Gillespie, said: "Common People, yeah!

"I can’t wait! It’s going to be rock & roll!

The show will see the band banging out their biggest tunes - songs like Loaded, Movin on Up, Rocks, Country Girl, Accelerator and Cry Myself Blind. It also gives the band a chance to showcase their new, 11th, album Chaosmosis.

“I think it’s a stunning album,” he says. “I’m really proud of it. I think it’s a really fresh sounding piece of art.

"It depends how much time we’ve got, but we’re going to play the hits. Be there or be square!”

Double Mercury-nominated artist Ghostpoet was also looking forward to joining the party. He plays the main stage on Sunday, playing tunes from his latest album Shedding Skin

"I have played a few festivals," says the singer, real name Obaro Ejimiwe. "It is nice to play to a big audience, and certainly a more random one. The audience always enjoys it and are up for a good time.

"It should be great fun," he goes on.

"It's all about putting on a show; about great musicianship, effort and passion – and that's what we do, and people can connect to that.

"If you are playing for an audience who have paid to come to a festival, you've got to put on the best show you can.

"At festivals there is so much stuff going on at the same time, and more than anything, people just want to enjoy it!"

The festival boasts a strong local line-up, with a platform for local bands - the Uncommon People stage - programmed by Ronan Munro, the editor of Oxford's free monthly music magazine Nightshift. Acts include vintage jazz act The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, Eastern European party starters Balkan Wanderers, blues-rockers Vienna Ditto and Little Brother Eli, electronica act Maiians, Cassels, The August List, Chipping Norton’s Esther Joy Lane, Ziai, Undersmile, Peerless Pirates, Cameron AG, Death of the Maiden, Duotone, Julia Meijer and Neverlnd - the band formerly known as Balloon Ascents.

Spinning tunes for festival-goers will be DJ Count Skylarkion - aka East Oxford reggae-lover Aidan Larkin and friends, in Aidan's iconic Disco Shed.

"There is a lot of local input." says Rob da bank. "I hope this all shows that we want to put on a festival for Oxford – as well as for ourselves!"

Common People takes place in South Park, Oxford, tomorrow and Sunday.

For more details and tickets, go to commonpeople.net